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Natural Awakenings Space & Treasure Coast Florida

Managing Allergens at Home

May 05, 2015 06:39PM ● By James Paulk

An estimated 40 million Americans suffer from indoor allergies and 25 million people struggle with asthma. It is a common belief that removing carpet from a home will help control allergy symptoms. However, recent studies have shown that carpet may actually be helpful as long as it is properly and effectively cleaned.

Carpet, rugs and upholstery act like a giant filter, trapping allergens and keeping them out of the air. Yet, just like in air filters, contaminates build up and these soft surfaces must be cleaned through proper cleaning techniques to remove the trapped allergens, such as pollen, pet dander and dust.

You can ensure healthier indoor air in your home by keeping your carpets clean and in good condition through regular vacuuming and having your carpets, rugs and upholstery professionally cleaned every 3 to 4 months to clean out the trapped allergens. However, not all carpet cleaning services are alike.

Look for products and services that are safe for your family, pets, and the environment. These should use as many plant-derived, natural ingredients as possible. Ideally, find a service that removes at least 75% of dust mites and allergen, mold spores, and pet dander allergen, and uses very little water.

Manage allergies at home with a simple routine:

  • Dust surfaces. By dusting surface and washing bedding often, you can control the amount of dust mites in your home.
  • Vacuum regularly. Vacuum high-traffic or pet areas daily. Medium and light areas can be vacuumed once or twice a week. This will reduce the surface dust mites and animal dander in your home. Use a high quality 3 stage HEPA filter type vacuum.
  • Limit dirt intrusion. Be proactive, put out a durable entrance mat for people to wipe off their feet before entering your home. Then require everyone to take off his or her shoes so less dirt is tracked inside.
  • Deep clean. Have your carpets cleaned by a professional regularly. Find a provider who uses plant-derived and natural products to prevent toxins being introduced into your home via cleaning solutions.

James Paulk is the owner of Infinite Ecoclean with over 23 years in the floor and upholstery cleaning business. Infinite Ecoclean is Green Certified to offer the safest and most thorough floor cleaning. For more call 321-507-6151 or visit InfiniteEcoclean.com.